Applications for Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent for the restoration of the Grade II* Highbury Hall in Birmingham have been lodged. The submission to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to release the grant award for the Delivery Phase has also been made. These represent significant milestones in this important project.
Burrell Foley Fischer are working with the Chamberlain Highbury Trust and Birmingham City Council on plans to restore Highbury, a Grade II* listed building, which was commissioned as his Birmingham residence by Joseph Chamberlain in 1878, two years after he became member of parliament for Birmingham. It took its name from the Highbury area of London, where Chamberlain had lived as a child. The south facing grounds of 30 acres associated with Highbury were mainly landscaped by Edward Milner in 1879.
The aspiration for the project is to make Highbury fully accessible to everyone and regain its rightful place in Birmingham’s historical and cultural landscape. Most importantly, the Trust want Highbury “to engage young people from all backgrounds and encourage them to take inspiration from the Chamberlain family heritage”. They want them to “critically reflect upon leadership in all its forms and to take their place in the future of the region and country”.
“Inspired and informed by the story of the Chamberlain Family and the history and heritage of the house and grounds, the restored Highbury estate will be a vibrant, well used place. Young people will come to develop leadership and governance skills, local people will be able to participate in an inclusive and diverse programme of activities, and visitors to the City will be welcome to enjoy a unique heritage attraction.
Its green space will be open year-round, will be free to visit and will provide a relaxed learning space with nature and conservation at its heart. Highbury will contribute to the economic vitality of the local area by providing space and facilities for local people to build businesses and nurture community organisations.”
Chamberlain Highbury Trust’s vision
The restored Mansion will include:
Visitor heritage attraction
Cafe
Wedding and events hire
Leadership training
Education activities for groups and schools
Small Business and enterprise spaces
Rooms for hire for the community
Café kiosk outdoors and courtyard seating